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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cherry Almond Soufflé

Cherry Almond Soufflé

dessert· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
February 10, 2023

Cherry Almond Soufflé – Light almond cake sits atop a cherry compote that makes for a lovely, balanced dessert. We…
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Chocolate Coquito

Chocolate Coquito

drinks· Easter· Holiday Favorites
February 5, 2023

Chocolate Coquito – Creamy chocolate drink with a hint of coconut flavor and spiced rum. It’s a Christmas tradition that…
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Pistachio Loaf

Pistachio Loaf

bread· breakfast· cake· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pastries· snacks
January 15, 2023

Pistachio Loaf – Real pistachios are ground and added to olive oil, eggs, sugar, flour, and a hint of almond…
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Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
December 29, 2022

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs – Homemade choux puffs are filled with fresh whipped cream, a slice of banana and…
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Holiday Mule

Holiday Mule

drinks· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
December 26, 2022

Holiday Mule – Ginger beer, cranberry juice, vodka, apple cider, and Prosecco are combined to make this perfect drink for…
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Gingerbread Soufflé

Gingerbread Soufflé

dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
December 5, 2022

Gingerbread Soufflé – A special holiday version of the classic dessert. This soufflé is the perfect treat to serve all…
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Blackberry Doughnut Cake

Blackberry Doughnut Cake

breakfast· cake· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
November 27, 2022

Blackberry Doughnut Cake – A dense coffee cake with a hint of nutmeg, filled with blackberry preserves, and covered in…
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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

a stack of three Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

close up of sliced loaf of chocolate cinnamon babka with the center exposed to see the beautiful swirl of chocolate

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka

vinaigrette dressing being poured over a plate of Orchard Harvest Salad (Panera Copycat) from a glass bottle with a half and whole pair and cherry preserves in the background, shot from a side angle

Orchard Harvest Salad (Panera Copycat)

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

a hand holding up a cinnamon bun soft pretzel

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

apple cinnamon monkey bread with a chunk out of it and sliced apples in front, shot from a side angle

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

overhead shot of pistachio creme brulee with a few bites take out and sugar cracked

Pistachio Crème Brulee

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

two powdered sugar doughnuts on a wood plate with more doughnuts in the background

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

 

3-Ingredient Oreo Truffles 😍 One of my favorit 3-Ingredient Oreo Truffles 😍

One of my favorite go-to recipes! I inherited this from my old roommate back in college. She made them for me once and they suddenly took over my life, you guys! I seriously ate like 10 in one sitting. It was that day that I discovered what heartburn was! 

THE RECIPE (makes 48 truffles):

Ingredients:
-1 package Oreos (36 cookies)
-1 package (12 oz) chocolate chips
-1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

Instructions:
1️⃣ Take cream cheese out of fridge to warm slightly (NOT room temp!)
2️⃣ Crush Oreos into crumbs in food processor. Save 1/4 cup for topping
3️⃣ Mix Oreo crumbs + cream cheese with your HANDS until it forms a dough
4️⃣ Roll into balls using teaspoon or melon baller
5️⃣ Chill 10 minutes
6️⃣ Melt chocolate chips in microwave (30-sec increments)
7️⃣ Dip balls in chocolate, let excess drip off
8️⃣ Sprinkle with reserved Oreo crumbs
9️⃣ Chill 1 hour before serving
🔟 Store in fridge!

Save & Share!

#oreotruffles #easydesserts #oreorecipes #nobakedesserts 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/3-ingredient-oreo-truffles
Well, if you're struggling this morning like I am, Well, if you're struggling this morning like I am, I have the perfect treat to get you moving and grooving!

Almond croissants are, by-far, my favorite pastry, you guys! I love the rich almond filling and the crunch you get from the sliced almonds on top. 

The secret to easy almond croissants? We're using store-bought croissants! Because the filling takes its own time to make, I see no benefit in making these more complicated by making your own croissants, as well. But if that's what you wanna do, you definitely can. I'm just here to assure you that it's definitely not necessary!

Perfect for impressing brunch guests, treating yourself on a lazy Sunday, or bringing bakery vibes into your own kitchen!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/almond-croissants/
The Pumpkin Cheesecake Macaron! Pumpkin butter i The Pumpkin Cheesecake Macaron! 

Pumpkin butter is just like apple butter – a spreadable puree of deliciousness with tons of spices – but made with pumpkin puree instead of apple (duh). I've seen pumpkin butter sold in stores (near the jams and jellies) but it wasn't available at my store yet. 

So I just made my own using a recipe from Skinnytaste. I only made a half-batch and it was more than enough!

Side note: I've been using the leftover pumpkin butter to flavor my coffee in the mornings. Just a teaspoon goes a long way! 

Why these are special: These macarons are so delicate, yet chewy and BEYOND flavorful, you guys! Move over, pumpkin spice latte, there's a new favorite pumpkin treat in town! 

These are restaurant-quality French cookies you can make at home! Yes, they take some practice and attention to detail, but they're SO worth it! The "wow" factor alone is incredible, and they taste even better than they look!

RECIPE: https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-macarons/
These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms! T These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms!

The peanut butter cookie base is so soft and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness from the sugar coating. And that Hershey Kiss on top? It's not just decoration – it's an essential part of the experience! Every bite has peanut butter AND chocolate!

Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday cookie exchanges, bake sales, homemade gifts, or honestly ANY time you're craving that classic peanut butter and chocolate combo! 

Ready to make these classics? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peanut-butter-blossoms/
These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many el These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many elements that it was really hard to name them! They're chewy, chocolatey, minty, have a layer of buttercream, and a nice dollop of fudge on top. I decided 4 words were the max I could use when naming them so I settled on mint chocolate fudge cookies!

Mint cookies have long been a love of mine, whether it's a thin mint or mint cookie ice cream. I love the duo of chocolate and mint together, but it is EVEN better when the chocolate is in the form of a cookie! 

March tends to be the unofficial month of mint because of St. Patrick's Day and the Shamrock Shake at McDonald's making its annual appearance this time of year. So I had to give you a fun, new mint cookie to celebrate these flavors! 

Perfect for St. Patrick's Day parties, cookie exchanges, gifts for mint chocolate lovers, or any time you want to impress with a stunning cookie! 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/mint-chocolate-fudge-cookies/

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